If you have a cat, you’ve probably realized that our feline pals tend to throw up more often than other animals. It’s not unusual for kitties to get the occasional hairball, but that isn’t the only possible reason for Fluffy to throw up. An Aurora, CO vet offers some insight on this below.
Causes Of Vomiting
Cats can throw up for many different reasons. In some cases, Fluffy may have just eaten something that disagreed with her. Changing your kitty’s food too quickly can also throw her off. Other potential reasons include stress, parasites, and ingestion of toxins or chemicals. Certain medications can also make your feline pal queasy. Your furry pal might also get carsick, even just going to the vet’s and back.
Hairballs
Hairballs definitely aren’t the best part of having a cat. However, it is important to know what they are and how they form. These are an unfortunate side effect of Fluffy’s dedication to her beauty regime. As your kitty dutifully cleans herself, she’ll inevitably swallow some of her fur. She can’t digest that hair, so it will eventually be expelled in hairball form. (Cats sometimes seem to deliberately leave hairballs in the spots where they are most likely to get stepped on, but that’s another topic.)
Problem Signs
How do you tell if Fluffy is throwing up more than she should be? There’s no set number, but anything more than the occasional hairball could be cause for concern. Err on the side of caution, and talk to your vet.
Yellow Liquid
Throwing up clear or yellow liquid is a definite red (er, yellow) flag. This can happen for several reasons, including gastritis, pancreatitis, indigestion, disease, constipation, and ingestion of toxic substances. Other concerning signs would be dry heaving, bloody vomit, and/or throwing up frequently. Call your vet right away if you notice any of these things.
Tips
There are some things you can do to reduce the chances of Fluffy getting sick. If you have to change your kitty’s diet, do so slowly, over the course of several days. It’s also important to keep up with your feline friend’s parasite control products. If you have a longhaired kitty, get into the habit of brushing her regularly. Ask your vet for more tips.
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